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Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: Yus.K. received lecture fees from multiple companies including Daiichi-Sankyo, and research funds from Daiichi-Sankyo. Other authors report no conflicts of interest.

Peroxiredoxin from Pyrococcus horikoshii (PhPrx) is a decameric protein formed by ring-type assembly of five dimers. To engineer the quaternary structure of PhPrx, we created a mutant PhPrx (PhPrx6m) by introducing six point mutations designed to dissociate PhPrx into dimers. Although PhPrx6m was a dimer in solution, the six dimers assembled into a dodecamer following crystallization. In the crystal structure, PhPrx6m was overoxidized, and the peroxidatic cysteine was in sulfonic acid form and two cysteines in the C-terminal region were linked by an intramolecular disulfide bond. Thus, we characterized the wild-type PhPrx overoxidized by hydrogen peroxide (PhPrxPer). Analytical ultracentrifugation showed that PhPrxPer had a higher molecular mass in solution than PhPrx. This was confirmed by analysis of the crystal structure of PhPrxPer, which was found to form a ring-type dodecamer composed of six dimers. The monomeric structures of PhPrx6m and PhPrxPer differed from that of PhPrx in the relative orientation of two domains, reflecting the number of dimers in the ring-type assembly. Unlike PhPrx, homologous peroxiredoxin from Aeropyrum pernix (ApPrx) did not undergo hexameric association. This property can be explained by the stronger connection between the two domains in ApPrx due to its C-terminal extension relative to PhPrx., (© The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Japanese Biochemical Society. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Relaxin (RLN) is an insulin-like hormone associated with extracellular matrix degradation, osteoclastogenesis, and osteoblast differentiation. This study aimed to assess the effect of RLN during and after lateral expansion of murine calvarial sagittal sutures., Materials and Methods: RLN was injected topically using a nano-sized liposome carrier into the sagittal sutures of 8- to 10-week-old wild type mice just before lateral expansion. Suture morphology, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone volume were analysed by micro-computed tomography. Collagen deposition and osteoclast differentiation were observed by Verhoeff-Van Gieson (VVG) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, respectively., Results: Less collagen staining and higher tissue-specific relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor (Rxfp)-1 and -2 expression were observed in the RLN-treated samples after 48 hours. Increased BMD and volume, and thick well-organised osteoid tissue, with multinucleated TRAP-positive cells, were observed in RLN-treated samples after 1 week. Increased Rxfp-1 expression was observed in the sagittal sutures in the mid-suture fibrous tissue following RLN treatment. Rxfp-2 was only expressed in the calvarial bone under tensile stimulation and RLN treatment further increased its expression., Limitations: RLN-liposomes were not detected at any instance under the current experimental conditions. This is a preliminary study and the sample number limits the power of its results. VVG staining cannot quantify collagen contents but can provide preliminary information on the presence of collagen fibres., Conclusions: RLN treatment may modify bone remodelling and collagen metabolism during and after suture expansion., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Orthodontic Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com)

The 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic and international public health emergency has been referred to as a "black swan" event, or an event that is unlikely, hard to predict, and highly impactful once it occurs. The Chicago Ebola Response Network (CERN) was formed in response to EVD and is capable of receiving and managing new cases of EVD, while also laying the foundation for a public health network that can anticipate, manage, and prevent the next black swan public health event. By sharing expertise, risk, and resources among 4 major academic centers, Chicago created a sustainable network to respond to the latest in a series of public health emergencies. In this respect, CERN is a roadmap for how a region can prepare to respond to public health emergencies, thereby preventing negative impacts through planning and implementation., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

We developed a mutation diagnosis system using a 1,N'-ethenoadenosine forming reaction. Furan-derivatized oligodeoxyribonucleotides were synthesized and fluorescence properties were studied in the presence of complimentary strand under oxidative conditions. Strong emission at 430 nm was observed in the presence of A allele ODN.

The zygote centrosome, consisting of both paternal and maternal centrosomal components, is the microtubule-organizing center necessary for pronuclear migration and positioning in fertilization. Maternal centrosomal function in microtubule organization and pronuclear positioning, however, remains unclear. In the present study, we sought to elucidate the function of maternal centrosomes during bovine parthenotes in the microtubule organizational processes required to move the pronucleus to the cell center without sperm centrosomal components. Microtubule organization, pronuclear position, and distribution of gamma-tubulin, which is thought to be the major component of maternal centrosomal material, were imaged by immunocytochemistry and conventional epifluorescence microscopy. In bovine parthenotes treated with paclitaxel, a microtubule-stabilizing drug, the cytoplasmic microtubule asters became organized after chemical activation, and the microtubules radiated dynamically toward the female pronucleus. The microtubule patterns correlated well with pronuclear movement to the cell center. Microtubules aggregated at regions of gamma-tubulin concentration, but gamma-tubulin did not localize to a spot until the first interphase of bovine parthenogenesis. These findings indicate that gamma-tubulin is responsible for microtubule organization as the maternal centrosome. In bovine parthenogenesis, the maternal centrosome then organizes cytoplasmic microtubules to move the female pronucleus into the cell center. We propose that the maternal centrosome plays a role as a functional centrosome despite the lack of a sperm contribution, making this structure less competent for microtubule organization in comparison with centrosomes containing sperm centrosomal components.

Hydrostatic pressure-induced morphological and physiochemical changes in monomeric myosin were investigated. The turbidity of a myosin solution increased after release of pressure, indicating aggregation of the molecules. Some molecules were single headed after exposure to 100-200 MPa, in contrast with an intact molecule having two heads. Small-sized oligomeric species, composed of several molecules, appeared after pressurization at 200 MPa. The oligomers were formed only through head-to-head association. Neither head-to-tail nor tail-to-tail interaction was observed. With increasing pressure to 300 MPa, monomeric myosin remarkably decreased, and most molecules formed oligomers, in which the myosin heads were tightly associated, forming a clump, the tails of the myosin molecules extending radially from the clump. Such an oligomer was shaped like a daisy wheel and its morphology was quite similar to that formed on heating reported previously [Yamamoto et al. (1990) J. Biochem. 108, 896-898]. The aggregation of myosin molecules upon pressurization was concomitant with an increase in hydrophobicity, which was measured spectrofluorometrically with 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate, a probe for apolar binding sites. Although the turbidity increased continuously with increasing pressure, the hydrophobicity remained at a constant level above 200 MPa at pH 6.0 and above 300 MPa at pH 7.0. The loss of myosin ATPase activity was accompanied by aggregation of the molecules. These results indicate that hydrophobic groups in the heads of myosin are exposed to the surface of the molecule on pressurization, so that hydrophobic interaction among the heads occurs, yielding aggregates. Beside the hydrophobic interaction, the contribution of other interaction(s) is also suggested.

The phi X174-DNA membrane complex was isolated from Escherichia coli infected with phi X174 am3 by isopycnic sucrose gradient centrifugation followed by zone electrophoresis. The phi X174 DNA-membrane complex banded at two positions, intermediate density membrane fraction and cytoplasmic membrane fraction, having bouyant densities of 1.195 and 1.150 g/ml, respectively. Immediately after infection with phi X147, replicating DNA was pulse-labeled and then the incorporated label was chased. The radioactivity initially recovered in the intermediate density membrane fraction migrated to the cytoplasmic membrane fraction. The DNAs from both complexes sedimented mainly at the position of parental replicative form I (RFI). The phi X174 DNA-membrane complex contained a speficic membrane-bound protein having a molecular weigth of 80,000 which is accumulated in the host DNA-membrane complex. These results suggest that when phi X174 DNA penetrated into cells in the early phase of infection, single-stranded circular DNA was converted to parental RFI at a wall/membrane adhesion region and migrated to the cytoplasmic membrane fraction, where the parental RF could serve as a template in the replication of progeny RF.

We have investigated the sequence specificity of DNA damage induced by mitomycin C reduced with NaBH4, by using 3'- or 5'-end labeled DNA fragments of defined sequence. Mitomycin C reduced with NaBH4 induced heat-labile sites in DNA preferentially at specific sequences. The most preferred trinucleotide sequence for induction of heat-labile sites was GGT, followed by GGG, AGT, GAG, GGC and AGG. Active oxygens such as hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen, and metal ions were involved in the induction of heat-labile sites. DNA was broken at the 3' side of deoxyguanosines and some of deoxyadenosines by heat-treatment. The produced oligonucleotides contained phosphoryl groups at the 5' termini. The 3' termini seemed not to have simple structures.

Reducing sugars induced alkali-labile sites in DNA. The DNA reacted with D-fructose 6-phosphate or D-fructose in the presence of Cu2+ was cleaved by the treatment with aqueous piperidine at 90 degrees C for 30 min. Alkali-labile sites were induced frequently at the pyrimidine residues, especially at the pyrimidine residues in pyrimidine-purine (5'----3') sequences. Transition metal ions such as Cu2+ and oxygen radicals such as hydrogen peroxide were possibly involved in the induction of alkali-labile sites.